In 2012 the Watercolor Society of Oregon and Menucha Retreat & Conference Center in Corbett, created a partnership to host excellent painting workshops in a beautiful, historic setting overlooking the Columbia River Gorge. Each year the WSO selects instructors for workshops in the spring and fall. Participants in these 3- or 4-day workshops can get away from their usual obligations to focus on their art and learning from an excellent teacher. Menucha charms guests with amazing gorge views, comfortable accommodations in a fun, relaxing environment and deliciously healthful homemade meals!

WSO’s long-time partnership with Menucha allows our members the opportunity to learn from a diverse group of artists, both seasoned and emerging. The flip side of that coin holds another bonus: WSO members who are far enough along in their art careers to teach have a golden opportunity to instruct within a setting that has garnered excellent reviews over many years from students and instructors alike. From both perspectives, the consensus of our members is that Menucha workshops are rewarding experiences that are conducive to artistic growth.

This Menucha partnership also supports WSO in a couple of ways. Each spring and fall, $25 of every participant’s tuition is contributed to our organization. In addition, Menucha’s promotion of these workshops provides another avenue for Oregon artists to learn about WSO. We also appreciate that Menucha maintains a focus on affordability so that as many artists as possible may experience these workshop retreats.

Upcoming Workshops

Spring 2026: Pen and Ink With Watercolor — Elevated
Anji Grainger
May 11-14, 2026

Go beyond the basics to explore how the addition of ink can enhance your paintings, adding new layers of texture, detail, and visual interest. You’ll experiment with new techniques that bring depth and a professional touch to your artwork.

Over three days of immersive instruction, demonstrations, and critiques, you will learn to:

• Master advanced pen strokes and create striking wet-into-wet watercolor backgrounds.
• Integrate pen-and-ink with watercolor in new and proven ways, including penning and printing with a leaf.
• Experiment with creating textured and stenciled backgrounds for more complex compositions.
• Explore the characteristics of different inks, including waterproof and non-waterproof India ink, to achieve unique bleed and shading effects.
• Bring your skills together to create a finished painting that combines the different techniques you’ve learned.

This workshop is ideal for artists looking to push their creative boundaries. Whether you are a beginner or have some experience, you will discover new ways to make your artwork more dynamic and captivating. Bring your own reference images or work with provided examples.

Anji’s website: www.bluepansycottage.com
Instagram: @anjigrainger
Register for the workshop here – Registration opens December 8: menucha.org/programs/swcw

Fall 2026: Watercolor Portraits From The Ground Up
Tess Myers
November 2-5, 2026

Take a deep dive into watercolor portraiture with Tess Myers. This four-day workshop will guide you through every stage of creating portraits in watercolor. We’ll move from fundamental techniques, to essential skills such as sketching and anatomy, to conceptual exercises designed to help you bring your own ideas to life. By the end, you’ll have fresh ways to examine the world and the people around you.

Students will learn how to analyze and emulate the luminous quality of skin, capture emotion and personality, and how to plan, prepare, and execute an effective portrait. We’ll also explore composition, themes, the expressive use of light, shadow, and edges, as well as strategies for achieving anatomical accuracy.

The unique format of a retreat workshop gives us the luxury of time: to focus deeply, to play and experiment, and to exchange ideas with others. Optional evening sessions offer space for discussion and reflection, and the peaceful natural setting of Menucha provides an ideal backdrop for connecting with your own unique voice and expression while pushing your skills to the next level. No prior portrait experience is required— come as you are!

Tess’ website: www.tessmyers.com
Instagram: @tesslacoiled_art
Register here – Registration opens March 18: menucha.org/programs/fwcw

Spring 2027: Painting With Pastels
Susan Kuznitsky
Dates TBD

Susan is a very popular instructor who teaches both nationally and internationally. She was all set to teach for us in 2020 and we’re so pleased to be able to bring her to Menucha in 2027! Stay tuned for details….

Susan’s website: www.susankuznitsky.com
Instagram: @susankuznitsky

Recap of the Spring 2024 workshop: What’s in a Face

Chris Stubbs taught a portraiture workshop focusing on both human and animal faces, attended by a large group of her student fans. Chris Stubbs responded, “I was really touched by the artist’s comments—3 choked up and had tears as they described how I had helped them to capture their vision and heart in their paintings! That was a surprise and touched my heart.”

Recap of the Fall 2023 workshop: Special Effects

René Eisenbart taught a WSO workshop at Menucha in the fall of 2023. In Special Effects, René showed how to use acrylic mediums as a substrate to encourage loose, vibrant watercolor paintings. Here’s what participants are saying:

“It gave me the courage to reframe how I thought about watercolor and what makes a successful painting. I wasn’t sure how many of the techniques we used would work. As it turned out, even my ‘mistakes’ could enhance the painting. Super fun, well taught and encouraging class. Very inspirational!”
                — Marsha Matschek

“I am so excited and happy to learn many ways to ‘save’ a painting from the trash bin and now have tools and ideas to recreate old paintings more expressively and spontaneously. Thinking “what if I make a mistake?” has been my nemesis.  With Rene’s knowledge and suggestions, I am now fearless! I have opened up my creativity and exploration to unlimited possibilities, which is fun and joyful.”

                — Lynne Vyfinkle

“Rene’s workshop was an eye-opener! With a background in traditional watercolor, I was interested in finding new ways to add texture to watermedia paintings. I loved learning how to create depth and form with thick gesso, painting on transparent ground, experimenting with stringy applications of tar gel, and finishing details using acrylic inks. 

I highly recommend this workshop for artists interested in exploring new watermedia possibilities.”

                — Mary Rollins